The Trifid Nebula (catalogued as Messier 20 or M20 and as NGC 6514) is an H II region located in Sagittarius. It was discovered by Charles Messier on June 5, 1764. Its name means ‘divided into three lobes’. The object is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars; anemission nebula (the lower, red portion), a reflection nebula (the upper, blue portion) and a dark nebula (the apparent ‘gaps’ within the emission nebula that cause the trifid appearance; these are also designated Barnard 85). Viewed through a small telescope, the Trifid Nebula is a bright and peculiar object, and is thus a perennial favorite of amateur astronomers.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Skywatcher Equinox 120ED
Imaging cameras: SBIG ST8XME
Mounts: Synta EQ6
Filters: Custom Scientific LRGB filter set (1.25″)
Dates: June 16, 2012
Locations: Monte Pollino
Frames: Custom Scientific RGB: 5×600″ bin 1×1

Autor: Lorenzo Siciliano
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI
09 December 2013

We select the best works of amateur astrophotographers with details of equipment, shooting processing etc.